Origin of Phrases - Q
Quorum
It's a Latin word whose literal meaning is "of who," but the way we use the word today originates from a Latin legal phrase. It was customary among English justices of the peace to name at least one person of especial knowledge or prudence without whose presence the other justices would be unwilling or unable to proceed with the business of the court. The wording of the naming of the justices contained the Latin phrase, "quorum vos Bob Smith, John Doe, and William Jones unum esse volumus, of whom we will that you, Bob Smith be one." The abbreviation "quorum" was applied to the specific persons who were required to be present before a session could be opened, and it ultimately developed into the meaning that is used today.